infield
n. countablen. the area of a farm or estate that is closest to the main buildings. This land is usually the best quality and gets the most care from the farmer.
n. the area of land situated nearest to the farmstead or manor house. Historically, this land received the most intensive cultivation and regular manuring compared to more distant fields.
The farmer planted the most valuable crops in the infield.
Because the infield was so close to the barn, it was the easiest area to fertilize and monitor throughout the growing season.
In traditional agricultural systems, the infield was kept under constant cultivation, while the outlying outfield was often left fallow for several years to recover its nutrients naturally.
Often used in historical or technical agricultural contexts to distinguish from the 'outfield'.